A Georgian Grain Store
Rossway Granary is a storage facility designed for grain, including wheat, barley, or oats, with a remarkable capacity of up to 75 tons (76,200 kg) of wheat, equivalent to the weight of 13 African elephants!
Constructed in 1802, as evidenced by a builder's receipt amounting to £73 10s 0d (£73.50), this granary saw the addition of an upper storey in 1850. It originates from Rossway Home Farm in Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, which had been owned by the Hadden family since 1683.
Why is the Granary at the Museum?
By 1976, the granary wasn’t being used because it was surrounded by much newer farm buildings. It was dismantled by volunteers and boys from Berkhamsted School, then transported to the Museum. Repair and reconstruction was carried out by a team of volunteers between 1979 and 1982.
The Structure of Rossway Granary
The structure of Rossway Granary primarily consists of wood with a slate roof, featuring divided compartments known as bins for storage. In the 19th century, the granary underwent expansion, becoming larger and taller.
Visitors to Rossway Granary can observe metal bars on the windows, a precautionary measure against theft due to the high value of the stored grain. Elevated on mushroom-shaped staddle stones, the granary remains above ground level, ensuring the grain's dryness and preventing rodents from accessing it. Ascending a steep ladder was necessary, especially while carrying heavy sacks of grain. The granary boasts big funnels, or 'hoppers,' in the ceiling, accompanied by six chutes leading outside, resembling slides. When needed, the loose grain was tipped down from upstairs, flowing through the chutes into bags on the ground. Notably, the right-hand bin preserves the names and dates of children from the Hadden family, inscribed between 1880 and 1886.